George Best

[jonnybrowne1956]

I'm trying to find information about my 2 x great grandfather, George Best.

All I know about him is that George fathered my great-grandmother Ann Best, who was born at 84 Charter Street In Manchester on 21st December 1858.

Ann's mother was Prudence Dainter (sometimes spelt Daintry or Dainty), who was born and brought up in Birmingham.

George is recorded on both Ann's birth certificate and marriage record as her father and although Prudence later married another man, Ann retained the name Best until she married Joseph Ray in 1878. I can find no evidence of Prudence and George ever marrying.

Whether George was Mancunian or a Brummie I've no idea although Charter Street where Ann was born was in a notorious part of Manchester,  and according to a local researcher I spoke to might well have been somewhere an unmarried woman from Birmingham would go to have her baby.

Family oral history/legend tells that George went off on a whaling ship shortly after Ann was born, and that after seven years of no contact Prudence had George declared officially dead and married Henry Keen in 1868 which if the story is true suggests they may have married.

George allegedly showed up again briefly when Ann was older, and introduced himself as her real father.

Any information anyone may have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!! 

[avm228]

What was George's occupation on his daughter's birth certificate?

[avm228]

Have you found Prudence & Ann in the 1861 census?

[avm228]

Have you found Prudence & Ann in the 1861 census?

Now found them with Prudence's parents in Birmingham:

Prudence Dainty Daur Un 24 Tar? polisher Birmingham
Ann Dainty Granddaur 2 Lancaster

RG9/2153/87/20.

[avm228]

So she's not claiming to be married or widowed in 1861.

Her marriage to Henry Keen in 1868 is as Prudence Dainter, rather than Best - what marital status does she claim then?

It's looking very much as though she and George Best did not marry.

[avm228]

Oh hang on - does she turn up as Prudence Best, with George Best, in Birmingham in the 1881 census?

[jonnybrowne1956]

That's a diferent family - Prudence is in the 1881 census as Prudence Keen.

George's occupation on Ann's birth certificate is that of a hawker.

Jonny

Oh hang on - does she turn up as Prudence Best, with George Best, in Birmingham in the 1881 census?

[avm228]

That's a diferent family - Prudence is in the 1881 census as Prudence Keen.

Can you give details of the relevant Prudence Keen in 1881? 

I can see her with Henry Keen in 1871 but it appeared to me that he later settled in Wales with an Elizabeth, and Prudence got together with George Best.

[jonnybrowne1956]

That's interesting - I can't see a Prudence Keen in Birmingham in 1881.

The Henry Keen in Wales does look like the same person, however - he was born in Poplar in 1828.

Bit of a mystery to say the least.....I must admit that given what my family knew I hadn't considered the possibility of Prudence going back to George...

Really appreciate your help!

Can you give details of the relevant Prudence Keen in 1881? 

I can see her with Henry Keen in 1871 but it appeared to me that he later settled in Wales with an Elizabeth, and Prudence got together with George Best.
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